Railroad car truck



Jan. 22, 1952 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR.

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Jan. 22, 1952 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec.

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INVENTOR.

Jan. 22, 1952 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledDec. 26, 1944 gill,

s M? I INVENTOR. Zia/"Z MflczmzZfam Patentecl Jan. 22, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RAILROAD CAR TRUCK Karl M. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill.Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,861

12 Claims.

My invention relates to trucks for railroad cars and more particularlyto the truck bolster construction involving load controlled mechanismsadapted to dampen excessive oscillations and lateral movements of thetruck bolster; said mechanisms being operatively associated with theends of spring supported truck bolsters and transom or truck frameportions disposed on opposite sides of the bolster-ends.

My improved mechanism, more specifically stated, involves laterallymovable elements carried by the bolster, adapted to effect frictionalcontact with the adjacent non-yielding portions of the truck and to becontrolled by one or more of the springs associated with the ends of thebolster; the invention also contemplating a structure wherein the degreeof spring pressure on said mechanism may be regulated and its frictionalcontact controlled; and at the same time providing an embodiment of theinvention adapted to the standard type of railroad car truck.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehendedfrom the detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the intermediate or bolster receivingopening portion of a standard type truck side frame with the endportions broken away and one side of my improved bolster and adjacentportion of the frame being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one end of my improvedbolster construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken, substantially; on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a view substantially similar to Figure 3, illustrating amodification.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the lin 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates another modification of my invention shown appliedto a special design of truck provided with transom members and specialspring mounting for the truck bolster; the figure being a transversesectional view through the truck side frame, equalizer supported end ofthe transom members and their spring supporting bracket, with one of thetransom members omitted and one end of my improved bolster shown inelevation.

-.-Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of one sideeofmy'improvedxholster and dampener mechanism, with the adjacent transommember shown in section.

Figure 9 is a similar view of the opposite side of the bolster-end andshowing the improved mechanism in oscillation reducing condition.

In the exemplification of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3and 4, the intermediate bolster receiving opening portion of a standardtype truck side frame is shown at I 5, provided with the usual columnsl6, l6 integral with the top and bottom members of the frame and thebottom member I! provided with a suitable spring cap or retaining memberl8. The window opening in the frame is adapted to receive the adjacentend of the truck bolster I9 which extends sufiiciently through theopening as shown in Figure 2 in order to rest on and be supported by theusual group of coil springs 20 mounted in member I8 arranged on thebottom member [1 of the truck-side frame.

The bolster l9, which preferably is of the hollow construction shown inFigure 2, adjacent each end is provided with predeterminedly spacedvertical webs 2|, 2| to provide a suitable chamber therebetween and theopposite sides of the bolster, coincident with the chamber, are 7provided with the large openings as shown at 22, 22which are preferablyshouldered as shown at 23. The bottom of-the bolster adjacent each endand intermediate its sides is provided with an opening 24 with thebolster bottom about the opening reduced and inwardly offset to providethe cavity 25.

The chamber at each end of the bolster is provided with a pair ofsimilar friction blocks 26, 26, preferably enlarged and shouldered attheir outer ends. as shown at 21 and with fiat friction providing outersurfaces; while the inner end of each block is provided with anoutwardly inclining surface 28, terminating at a distance from the topof the block in the recessed portion 29. The friction blocks 26, 26 areslidably mounted in the chambers of the bolster.

Interposed between the inner ends of the friction blocks 26 is anupwardly tapered wedge block or member 30, whose tapered sides match theinclined surfaces of the friction blocks 26; the

standing hub portion of a pressure applying or follower member 33; thehub portion extending upwardly through the opening 24 in the bottom ofthe bolster, while the base or laterally extending flange portion isarranged in the cavity 25. The base flange of the follower member 33 isof smaller dimensions than those of the cavity 25, to allow freemovement of member 33 in a vertical direction; the base of member 33being of a size sufficient to rest on and be supported by the adjacentportions of the springs '20 which, in standard truck constructions, areusually grouped beneath the ends of the truck bolster.

The hub portion of member 33 is provided with a transverse hole 34 toreceive a pin (not shown) whose ends would extend through socket 35formed in the wedge member '30; the use of a pin being merely fortemporary purposes while astom of the wedge member 30 is intended toreceive the upper end of the pressure spring 39, which extends throughthe opening 24 in the bottom of the bolster. In this instance thefriction applying condition of the friction members sembling the device,namely to hold member '33 in place.

In order to permit easy application and replacement, when desired, ofthe filler block 32,

the pocket outer end wall or web at its top is shown provided with anopening 36, see Figure 2; the opening 36 being of size commensurate withthe normal vertical operative movement of the wedge member 36. The twoside walls or webs 2|, 2'! 'of the pocket adjacent the bottom are shownprovided with openings 31, '31, to enable insertion of a pin, whose endswould rest at the bottom of openings 31, and thereby hold followermember 33 in place during assembly operations,

The side faces of the frame-columns is with which the friction blocks26, 26 are intended to form contact are preferably provided withsuitable wear plates 38.

In assembling the "oscillation dampener mechanism, the wedge member 3|]is first inserted through'one of the 'side openings 22 in the bolsterbefore the latter is introduced into the windowopening in the sideframe; the friction members 26, '26 are then inserted through theopenings at opposite sides of the bolster; the cushion or filler block32 is then inserted above the wedge member.

The end "of the bolster may then be inserted in the window op'ening, asdisplacement of the friction members and the wedge member is impossible,and the follower or pressure member applied to the wedge member 30,causing the wedge member to move upward through the action of thesprings 20, the upwardpressure of the springs being effective until theflanged base of pressure member 33 is substantially flush with thebottom of the bolster with which the springs also are 'in contact, asclearly shown in Figure 2.

If, for any reason, additional upward movement of the wedge block isdesired, a suitable shim such as a washer may be placed on top of thehubof follower member 33, at which time a filler block 32'ofcorrespondingly lesser thickness should be employed to compensate forthe additional shim.

In Figures 5 and 6, a modification of the standard truck type is shown,involving the use of a special pressure spring 39 arranged within thegroup of bolster supporting springs 20.

The ends of the bolster l9 are provided'with pockets similar to thosepreviouslydescribed, with the outer web 2| in this instance merelyrequiring the one opening 36 to permit insertion of the.

cushion or filler block 32 and the-opening 24 in the bottomof thebolster need not be surrounded by the cavity '25 shown in the previouslyde'- scribed structure.

and of the wedge block is entirely controlled by the intermediatepressure spring 39; and the elements are inserted into thebolster-pockets through the side openings in the bolster in the samemanner as previously described.

InFigures 7 to 9, inclusive, I illustrate application of my improvedoscillation control or dampener mechanism to the special type of truckconstruction shown in my co-pending application Serial Number 535,698,now U. S. Patent No. 2,563,338, dated August 7, 1951, involving transommembers 40, whose ends are united at 4|, which extend into the windowopening in the side frame 42 and are supported on the equalizers, one ofwhich is shown in section at 43. lhe transom members are provided ateach end with a bracket 44 which carries the nested springs 45 wherebythe bolster 46 is yieldingly supported. Except for the fact that theends of bolster 46 terminate short of the truck side frames and do notextend into the window opening, the ends of the bolster aresubstantially similar to those previously described, being provided withsuitable pockets to receive the friction members 41 disposedtransversely of the bolster with their outer ends seated in the enlargedor shouldered openings in the sides of the bolster es and adapted tofrictionally engage the wear plates 38 secured to the opposing sides ofthe transom members.

Figures 8 and 9 show opposite sides of the bolster, with the frictionmember 41 at the left out of frictional contact with the adjacent tran-I half of which isshown in each Figure 8 and 9.

The wedge member 50 is slightly differently formed and is centrallyprovided with a depending stem portion 51 about which the upper end ofthe inner or pressure spring 52 seats and by which the relation betweenthe wedge member 58 and the friction blocks or members 41, 41 iscontrolled.

The bottom of the bolster in this instance is shown provided with a.comparatively large opening 53, which permits the wedge member 50 to beinserted upwardly through the opening, with the lower end of the member56 extending through the opening to be engaged by the upper end of thecoil spring 52 disposed about the stem portion 5|. The upper wall of thebolster, similar to the bolsters in the preceding figures, is recessedto receive the cushion or filler block 32 when the "wedge member -is inits extreme upward z positlon and the -friction blocks are intransomengaging position, as shown in Figure 9. l The filler or cushion block32, whichlimits the upward travel of the wedge member, preferably isremovably secured on the head of the wedge member topermit replacementwhen worn or the substitution of a block or plate of differentthickness, thereby enabling any predetermined pressure to be obtained bythe extent of upward movement of the wedge member.

With my improved constructions, it is apparent that the vertical travelof the wedge members maybe limited and controlled and any predeterminedfriction block pressure may be obtained which would be the same undereither a light or a loaded car, this being especially true with thestructures shown in Figures 5 and '7. This application in part coversdivisible subject matter deleted from my pending application SerialNumber 535,698.

"The various exemplifications shown in the drawings are believed to bethe best embodiments of my invention, but structural modifications arepossible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

lqIn a railroad car truck, a spring supported truck bolster providedwith transversely disposed pockets in its ends open at the sides of thebolster, the pockets intermediate the ends having openings through thebottom of the bolster; a pair of friction blocks arranged in each pocketand slidable through the open ends thereof, the inner ends of the blocksbeing tapered to slope lipwardly toward each other and offset inwardlyat their tops to provide a recess between the blocks; and a wedgemember, arranged above the bottom opening of each pocket, provided Onopposite sides with upwardly tapering surfaces matching the innertapered ends of the friction blocks and arranged therebetween, the upperend of each wedge member having a laterally enlarged head portionarranged in the recess between each pair of friction blocks inoverlapping relation with the inner ends of the friction blocks wherebythe operative relation between the wedge members and their respectivefriction blocks is maintained. v

2. In a railroad car truck provided with side frames, a transverselydisposed truck bolster and bolster supporting springs operativelyintermediate the side frames and the ends of the bolster for supportingthe latter; the bolster adJacent its ends having transversely disposedpockets with openings through the bolster sides and with an openingthrough the bottom intermediate the ends of the pockets; a pair offriction blocks slidable in the ends of each pocket, said blocks havingenlarged flat outer ends and upwardly inclining inner ends slopingtoward the center of the pockets and recessed at the top to provide arecess between each pair of blocks; and an upwardly tapered wedge blockarranged above each pocket bottom opening intermediate the inclinedinner ends of the respective friction blocks, provided at top with alaterally enlarged head arranged in said recess and provided with afiller or cushion block on its upper surface, the bottom of each wedgeblock being centrally provided with a spring receiving and holdingportion.

3. In a railroad car truck having side frames, a transversely disposedtruck bolster and bolster supporting springs at the ends of the bolster;the bolster at each end being cored and provided with laterally spacedvertically disposed webs to proiii vide a pocket extending transverselyof the bolster, with the webs toward the bolster-ends having fillerblock inserting openings therethrough, said pockets having openingsthrough the bolster sides and in the bottom intermediate the sides andcentrally of the supporting springs; a pair of friction members in eachpocket slidably arranged on opposite sides of said bottom openings,provided with enlarged flat bearing surfaces at their outer ends andwith upwardly inclining inner ends sloping outwardly toward each other;an upwardly tapering wedge block arranged within the bolster pocketabove said bottom opening and intermediate the inclined inner ends ofthe friction blocks, the bottom of each wedgev block being centrallyprovided with a socket arranged above the bottom opening of the pocket:and a follower or pressure member disposed through said pocket bottomopening with its upper end seated in said wedge block socket while thelower end of said pressure member is enlarged to seat on a portion orthe bolster supporting springs.

4. In a railroadcar truck having side frames, a transversely disposedtruck bolster and bolster supporting springs at the ends of the bolster;the bolster at each end being cored and provided with laterally spacedvertically disposed webs to provide a pocket extending transversely ofthe bolster, with the webs toward the bolster-ends having filler blockinserting openings therethrough, said pockets having openings throughthe bolster sides and in the bottom intermediate the sides and centrallyof the supporting springs; a pair of friction members in each pocketslidably arranged on opposite sides of said bottom openings, providedwith enlarged flat bearing surfaces at their outer ends and withupwardly inclinin inner ends sloping outwardly toward each other; and anupwardly tapering wedge block ar-' ranged above said bottom openingintermediate the inclined inner ends of the friction blocks, the bottomof each wedge being centrally provided with a socket, said socket beingadapted to receive the upper end of a pressure spring.

5. In a railroad car truck, a spring supported truck bolsterd with itsends disposed between spaced portions'of the truck on opposite sides ofthe bolster and provided with transversely disposed pockets in its endsopen at the sides of the bolster and with an openin in the bottom ofeach pocket; a pair of friction blocks, slidable in each'pocket,provided with straight outer faces adapted to contact the spacedportions of the truck and having tapered inner faces sloping upwardlytoward each other; and an upwardly tapered wedge member, arrangedbetween the inner tapered faces of the friction blocks, adapted to movesaid friction blocks into frictional relation with said spaced portionsof the truck as the wedge member moves upwardly, the upper end of thewedge member having a laterally disposed head arranged in interengagingrelation with the friction blocks whereby the normal relation betweenthe member and blocks is maintained, said wedge member being actuated bycompression of the bolster springs.

6. In a railroad car truck, a truck bolster provided adjacent its endswith open ended transversely disposed pockets having central openings inthe bottom; friction blocks-arranged in the pockets and slidable throughthe open ends, the inner ends of the blocks sloping upwardly toward eachother; and upwardly tapered wedge members arranged in engagement withthe sloping ends of the friction blocks and provided with dependingspring holdingportions extending; through the bottom openings of thepockets, the upper portions of the wedge members and said frictionblocks being formed to have interlocking engagement to hold the wedgemembers in place and maintain operative relation between the wedgemembers and friction blocks.

7. In a railroad car truck, a truck bolster provided at its ends withpockets open at opposite sides of the bolster and having an openingthrough the bottom of the bolster; a pair of frictlon blocks slidablyarranged in the ends of the pockets and movable through the open ends ofthe pockets, the outer ends of the blocks having enlargedbearing'surfaces, while the inner ends of the blocks incline upwardlyinward toward the centers of the pockets; an upwardly tapered wedgemember in each. pocketv intermediate the, inclining ends of the pair offrictionblocks and aligned with the openin in the bottom of the bolster;the inner ends of the friction blocks and top wall of the bolster beingformed: to provide a cushion block receiving socket above the wedgemember; and spring mechanism beneath the bolster proper to support thelatter, with certain portions of the spring mechanism arranged to exertupward pressure onithewedge members.

8. In a railroad car-truck provided with. apair.

of transversely disposed parallel. transom mernbers; a spring; supportedtruck bolster, arranged between the transom members. provided at itsends with transversely disposed pockets open at the bolster-sides andeach pocket provided with an opening through the. bottom intermediatethe ling the degree of wedge block movement; and" non-bolster supportingpressure springs. adjacent the ends of the bolster adaptedto'centrally:exert independent upward pressure on thewedgeblocks.

9. In a car truck, asideframe havingv spaced vertical columns to providea. bolster opening therebetween; a bolster whose end portion istarrangedsaid opening between said ool'umns said end portion beingtransversely'recessed'at oppoe site sides with atop wall for therecessedportion; spring means for yieldingly supporting the bolster end portionin said. bolster opening;. a shoe associated with each recessed side ofthe bolster portion adapted to slidably engage'thetop-wall of:

the recessed portion and to effect frictional: en-- gageinent with anassociated column, the shoehaving an inwardly and upwardly extendingin.- ner end; means having opposed faces. complemental to and inengagementwith the inner-ends of said shoes; and independent springmeansfor urging said last mentioned meansupwardly and maintaining the,complementall faces: of said means and-shoes in yieldingengagement.

10. In a car truck, a side. frame having a column at each side of abolster opening therein. a

bolster portion disposed in said opening between said columns, springmeans for supporting said bolster portion from the bottom of saidopening, means providing a downwardly facing surface extending inwardlyfrom each side of said bolster portion, a shoe associated with each sideof said bolster portion and having an outer part frictionally engagedwith an associated column and an upper surface part engaged'with anassociated downwardly facing. surface in the bolster por tion, andinwardly and upwardly extending inner end surfaces, means having opposedfaces complemental to and engaged with the inner end faces of saidshoes, and other spring means, act;- ing independently of said firstmentioned spring means for urging the last mentioned means upwardly andmaintaining the opposed faces in yielding engagement with the inner endfaces; of said shoes.

11'. In a railway car truck, aside frame member provided with a bolsteropening, load supporting spring means supported by the side framemember, a bolster having a portion extending into said opening andvertically guided by the side frame member, said portion having a bottomresting on a part of said spring means, friction shoes mounted inopposite sides of said bolster portion and slidably engaging the. sideframe member, and Wedge means for urging said shoes into frictionalengagement with the side frame member, said wedge means including awedge arranged entirely within said bolster portion, supported byanother part of said spring means and operatively connected with theshoes.

12; In a car truck, aside frame having spaced columns and a bolsteropening. therebetween, a bolster portion disposed between said columns,a spring group carried by said frame'at the bot.- tom of said bolsteropening and supporting said portion, a downwardly facing surface on saidportion extending inwardly from each side thereof, and means associatedwith said surfaces. for

additionally supporting said portion from said frame, said meanscomprising friction shoes frictionally engaged with friction faces. onrespective columns and. also engaged with respective surfaces alongareas between spaced transverse vertical planes defining oppositelongitudinal extremities of said group, wedge means housed insaid'portion and presenting upwardly converging wedge faces engagingcomplementary faces of refspective shoes, and spring means independentof through said wedge ineansand said shoes to-said surfaces.

KARL M. HA MILTON,v

REFERENfiES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the" file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bitter Oct. 18, 1910 Number

